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As Angel Cabrera rolled in his tournament winning putt on Wednesday night with thousands of spectators crowding the 18th green to hail Bermuda's first PGA Grand Slam champ, it was hard to see how the event could have gone any better.

Accepting his trophy and pink blazer against the backdrop of an azure ocean with an old-fashioned sail-boat drifting idly by in the background, Cabrera tipped his hat to the crowd and warmly accepted their acclaim.

It was a picture perfect finish, to one of the most exciting Grand Slams in the event's 25-year history.

And though there were some around the course who defiantly donned their 'Bermuda loves Tiger' T-shirts, by the time the affable Argentine rolled in his birdie-putt to clinch the title after three holes of a sudden-death play-off, thoughts of the absent superstar had long evaporated at the Mid Ocean Club.

As a sporting contest the Grand Slam had everything - superb stroke making, thrilling competition and a grandstand finish that had even the most defiant golf-skeptics on the edge of their seats.

And whisper it, but the absence of Tiger may just have been the making of the competition.

The tournament has never seen a closer contest. All four players were in with a chance of victory going into the 18th hole on day two - a miniscule two shots separating the foursome.

It took a further three holes to separate the top two - the booming drive of the bullish Cabrera ultimately overpowering the laser accuracy of Harrington's putting.

Last year Woods won by two shots from Jim Furyk, the year before that he won by a whopping seven shots from Phil Mickelson. Tiger is a fantastic golfer - quite possibly the best ever.

But he's also a singularly focused competitor who does not understand the meaning of the term 'exhibition'.

The ease with which he has won these tournaments in the past suggest he is simply unable to take the foot off the gas, relax and play to the gallery as Cabrera did.

It's unfair to Cabrera and co to suggest that it would have been a cakewalk for Tiger, but his intense will-to-win - even in a 'friendly' competition - would have made him a clear favourite.

Had he not eschewed the invitation we might have seen Tiger at his destructive best - mauling another field of major winners as he has done seven times in Hawaii.

But the engaging thing about this competition was - factoring in the differing levels of motivation - the relative parity of the four players. If Tiger had made it, we would no doubt have seen a great competitor. In his absence, we saw a great competition.[[In-content Ad]]

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